Miyagishima is one of eight mayors, all members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who will spend a week in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from Dec. 30 until Dec. 7. The trip is being coordinated through the U.S. Conference of Mayors, of which Miyagishima serves on its board of advisors, and the Saudi Arabia government, which is paying for the trip.

"I've already started packing," Miyagishima said Friday. "The main thing, first and foremost, that I hope to gain from the trip is to learn about their culture. From an economic development standpoint, I don't know what we have that they can use. They have oil but we have solar energy; maybe we can share some of that information with them. They have a strong desalination system, and maybe we can exchange ideas on that. It should be interesting."

Also slated to make the trip with Miyagishima are: Donald L. Plusquellic, mayor of Akron, Ohio, and past president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; Mayor Raul G. Salinas, of Laredo, Texas; Mayor James Brainard, of Carmel, Ind.; Mayor Joy Cooper, of Hallandale Beach, Fla.; Mayor Brian Wahler, of Piscataway, N.J.; Mayor Kim McMillan, of Clarksville, Tenn.

Advertisement

; and Mayor William Kenoi, of Hilo, Hawaii.

Tom Cochran, chief executive officer and executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said this is the fifth year that select U.S. mayors have been invited to Saudi Arabia.

"This mission will provide in-depth insights into many aspects of a long-time U.S. ally," Cochran said. "...Mayors have expressed a variety of objectives for visiting Saudi Arabia, including learning about the world's largest desalination plants, exchanging ideas about local issues and challenges, promoting businesses and investment between Saudi Arabia and their cities and gaining a better understanding of the politics and culture of a leading Middle Eastern nation."

Cochran added Miyagishima and the other mayors will have the chance to learn more about the people, politics, and culture.

Miyagishima said he will fly to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The delegation will leave for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, on Saudi Arabian Airlines, and will arrive late Nov. 30.

The group will visit Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital; the Eastern Province; the Empty Quarter; and Jeddah. The mayors will also meet with top-ranking Saudi government officials and leading private-sector representatives, visit one of the world's largest oil fields, tour prominent educational institutions and participate in cultural activities.

Although there have been tensions in Saudi Arabia, Miyagishima said he is excited about making the trip.

"So far, the (U.S.) government says its a green light to go," he said. "As long as we stick together in the delegation we should be OK."

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452. Also follow him on Twitter: @SteveRamirez6.

ONLINE EXTRAS:

To see the itinerary for Mayor Ken Miyagishima's trip to Saudi Arabia, with a delegation of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, go to www.lcsun-news.com and click on the link at the top of this story.

— Mayor Ken Miyagishima is one of eight U.S. mayors going to Saudi Arabia next week.

— Miyagishima leaves Thursday and will return Dec. 7.

— Miyagishima will visit Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the country's Eastern Province, the Empty Quarter, and Jeddah, on Saudi Arabia's west coast.

— The mayors will meet with top-ranking Saudi government officials and leading private-sector representatives, visit one of the world's largest oil fields, tour educational institutions, and participate in cultural activities.